Opera in the Heights Presents "Elixir of Love"

Gaetano Donizetti was a primary exemplar of 19th century bel canto style in Italian opera, and he was rewarded both during and after his lifetime by great popular acclaim. His “Elixir of Love” (“L’Elisir d’amore”) brought him instant fame and success in Europe after its premiere in 1832.

“We at Opera in the Heights are pleased to present this masterpiece in the Italian comic opera genre,” said ROY HUGHES, managing director of OPERA IN THE HEIGHTS.

The opera’s beautiful style of singing, memorable melodies and lighthearted romantic scenario leaves audiences intoxicated with Donizetti’s spirited music and happy ending. The company’s artistic director, WILLIAM WEIBEL, conducts all performances of the opera which, he said “is a cornerstone of today’s standard opera repertory. It ranks with Donizetti’s ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ in popularity and frequency of performance.”

For each of the six full performances, OH engages two alternating and equally experienced casts of lead singers. SHERI SHOEMAKE serves as lighting and make-up designer, and costumes by BONNIE AMBROSE are made especially for OH productions. ISADORA BUCCIARELLI is stage director, and set designs are by NICK BAKAYSA.

FULL PERFORMANCES BEGIN AT 7:30 P.M. IN LAMBERT HALL, 1703 HEIGHTS BOULEVARD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77008.

The opera will be sung in the original Italian with English surtitles.

THE STORY
The opera opens as Adina, a wealthy landowner, reclines in the shade with a group of peasants taking a break from the harvest. Nemorino, a poor villager, watches admiringly from a distance. As Adina reads the peasants the story of Tristan and Isolde, Nemorino takes note of how Tristan won Isolde’s heart after she drank a magic love potion.

Enter Dr. Dulcamara, a traveling salesman visiting the town to hawk his fake patent medicines, Nemorino asks if he has a love potion for sale. Dulcamara gladly sells Nemorino a bottle of wine, which Nemorino hastily downs, confident that it will take effect in 24 hours as promised. But Adina has turned her attention toward Sgt. Belcore, who is visiting with his platoon. Belcore persuades Adina to marry him at once. Nemorino entreats Adina to wait one more day, enough for the potion to take effect, but she ignores him and invites the whole village to her wedding that very evening.

Nemorino decides to enlist in Belcore’s platoon to raise the money for another bottle. In the meantime, a bevy of peasant girls discovers that Nemorino’s uncle has died and left him a forturne. Nemorino glides in, drunk from the second bottle of wine. The girls lavish him with attention and, unaware of his inheritance, he is convinced that the potion has finally done the trick. Hoping for another sale, Dulcamara tells Adina that Nemorino’s popularity is due to the potion. Adina realizes the extent of Nemorino’s love and buys back his enlistment papers. The lovers are united as the village celebrates their happiness and the power of Dulcamara’s elixir.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ARE $41 AND $31. A reduced rate for anyone under 12 or over 65 is available for any Thursday or Friday performance. Tickets can be purchased at www.operaintheheights.org or by contacting Opera in the Heights’ office, 1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, Texas, 713-861-5303

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Thursday, January 25, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 26, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 27, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
*Monday, January 29, 2007, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 1, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 2, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 3, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

*Special one-hour performances

THE SPECIAL ONE-HOUR PERFORMANCES, offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the Monday following opening weekend, consist of lively narration and well-known arias, duets, and ensemble pieces, all accompanied by piano. The program concludes with a question and answer session between the cast and audience. These programs are designed for groups of students or senior citizens in a venue that can provide the intimacy Opera in the Heights’ audiences love.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OPERA
On the evening before Opera in the Heights opening nights, Houston’s preeminent opera lecturer Ann Thompson presents a delightful, informative, multimedia talk about the upcoming opera. The “Elixir of Love” talk will be held at the Thompson home on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, 7:30 p.m. These events are a real bargain at only $5.00. Call OH’s office at 713-861-5303 for reservations and directions.

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
For individuals contributing $500 and above, priority seating and reserved parking are available, in addition to other exciting benefits. Call OH’s office for more information. 713-861-5303.

DON’T MISS OH’S NEXT PRODUCTION:
Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”
March 22-24 and 29-31, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

OPERA IN THE HEIGHTS is a nonprofit, professional, regional opera company serving the Greater Houston area with high quality opera and concert performances in an intimate setting, at an affordable price. Each season, the company presents four fully staged and costumed productions of traditional operas, performed in the original language with English surtitles and accompanied by orchestra. It operates under the guidance of a Board of Directors, Artistic Director William Weibel and Managing Director Roy Hughes. Opera in the Heights is funded in part by grants from Texas Commission on the Arts and from the City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.